Stay updated with breaking news from ஜானி மிக்கந்ட்ச். Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
It was just a slightly better night for Tillman. The Utah transfer-turned-Rebel-turned-Aggie poured in 23 points and four rebounds as third-seeded New Mexico State built up a big lead and cruised to a 78-62 win over No. 2 Utah Valley in the semifinals of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament late Friday night. Jabari Rice added 13 points, four rebounds and two assists, and Johnny McCants added 9 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Aggies, who led by as much as 20 midway through the second half. Trey Woodbury, the Clark High product who played at UNLV before transferring to Utah Valley, poured in a career-high 34 points for the Wolverines, the WAC s co-champion and No. 2 seed that never found the appropriate shooting feel all night. J.J. Overton supplied 11 points and three rebounds, and Fardaws Aimaq added 12 boards. ....
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... NMSU senior Johnny McCants drives to the basket during Friday’s WAC Tournament semifinal win over Utah Valley at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Courtesy NMSU Athletics)This was not the road the New Mexico State men’s basketball team had been used to taking. But the destination is exactly the same as it has been for the past decade. Thanks to a wire-to-wire 78-62 semifinal win over No. 2 Utah Valley on Friday night, the third-seeded Aggies advanced to another Saturday night WAC Tournament championship game at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is NMSU’s ninth-consecutive appearance since 2012 in the league’s title game, which was not played in 2020 due the COVID-19. ....
NMSU faces Utah Valley in WAC semis March 12, 2021 GMT Western Athletic Conference Tourney Semifinals, Orleans Arena, Paradise, Nevada; Friday, 11 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: New Mexico State is ready to take on Utah Valley with the winner earning its place in the WAC championship game. The teams split the regular season series at one win apiece. The teams last faced each other on Feb. 20, when Utah Valley made only seven free throws on 13 attempts while the Aggies hit 21 of 25 en route to a seven-point victory. LEADING THE WAY: Utah Valley’s Fardaws Aimaq has averaged 14.5 points and 15.1 rebounds while Trey Woodbury has put up 14.7 points and four rebounds. For the Aggies, Jabari Rice has averaged 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds while Johnny McCants has put up 10.3 points and 6.2 rebounds.JUMPING FOR JABARI: Rice has connected on 35.7 percent of the 84 3-pointers he’s attempted and has gone 7 for 17 over the last three games. He’s also made 80 percent of his free th ....
.... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... .... LAS VEGAS, Nevada New Mexico State’s dominant run as the three-time regular season champion of WAC basketball ended with prejudice this season. But the Aggie men have saved their best for last, seemingly, just in time for the postseason. The No. 3-seeded Aggies (10-7, 7-6 WAC) take on the No. 6-seeded UT Rio Grande Valley (9-9, 2-5) Thursday at 9 p.m. MT in a quarterfinal of the six-team Western Athletic Conference tournament at The Orleans Arena. The Aggie men have experienced the same trials as has New Mexico in terms of the all-road schedule, necessitated by the state’s public health order. And COVID made an impact eight games canceled (including two vs. a Chicago State team that opted out during the season) and two more postponed. NMSU started slowly and needed the two-game road sweep of Dixie State last week just to creep over .500 in league play. ....
In most years, the narrative for WAC Vegas is clear. All eyes are fixed on New Mexico State, as the Aggies seek to cap off a season arguably deserving of an at-large bid with the league’s automatic bid which, fair or not, is their only realistic path to the Big Dance. There’s no such argument this year. A stop-and-start, adversity-filled season for NMSU didn’t contain the type of gaudy numbers to which WAC followers have become accustomed. Instead, there’s a more exciting narrative swirling in Sin City this year. Put simply, the thing is wide open, and someone may grab a historic bid. ....